Since I just got my 1000th person telling me how they lost something because they didn’t have a proper backup, I thought I would point this fact out again. There really is no excuse.
“Mozy is a simple and safe way to back up all the important stuff on your computer. A copy of your data is stored in a secure, remote location for safekeeping, so that in the event of disaster your data is still retrievable.” according to Mozy.com. You can get a free account which allows you to backup 2GB of data for free. This can be your bookmarks and misc files. Obviously you’re not going to backup a great deal of images with 2GB.
Here is athe good news. They have an unlimited, single machine, option. Which means you can backup a single machine (all local storage) with a single price — $4.95 per month if you sign a two year agreement. That’ ~$104.00 for two years of unlimited backups and restores. You can even restore files remotely. I’ve been on the road and realized that I needed a file from my workstation. I’ve initiated a restore to my laptop from the road and gotten last night’s backup. Oh, did I forget to mention that the backups are in the background and seemless. They run when you don’t use your machine. No need to schedule a specific time. As you getup and go get coffee Mozy figures out what needs to be backed up and backs it up. They even keep multiple copies of files on their server, in case you need a version of the file from 4 days ago.
I, highly, highly suggest Mozy to everyone. You can use my referral code, this gives me 128MB added to one of my free accounts for everyone who signs up and actually uses Mozy. Or you can just sign up without it. Just start using it.
DISCLAIMER: Mozy is now owned by EMC. I have no direct affiliation with EMC or Mozy. However I do hold 401K portfolio(s) which at times may hold EMC stock, but they would not be direct holdings and not under my control.
Yeah I know I’m getting out of hand with the music. I’m sure I’m not the only one that hates American Idol, although I admit, I actually like Kelly Clarkson’s voice, as the show is more of a who can best “show” in every category rather than be really good at one genre.
Ok, way way off topic. Here is Colbie Caillat singing Fallin’ for you.
She has another great song as well, “Bubbly”, which also sounds great.
You can buy MP3s of these songs from Amazon’s MP3 Service. (Don’t forget to checkout “Green” by Brenden James too)
I’ve been doing a lot of research into Infrared photography and there doesn’t seem to be a single place that contains all of it, so here is what I found:
With DSLRs there are three types of IR Techniques.
Photoshop
Converted Bodies
Filters
Photoshop: Techniques do exist to “imitate” IR photography. This is a trick and cannot reproduce the amazing images that you can get from IR itself.
Converted Bodies: The main reason that IR photography is not readily available to us is that all DSLR cameras have a IR Filter that blocks most of the IR light from the sensor. Method #3 is to physically remove this filter from in front of the sensor. This conversion is destructive, and that body is not longer able to take normal pictures again, it can only take IR images. Yes, this means you have to carry yet another body with you everywhere you go, but this is the best possible image you can get. A typical conversion (there are two or three different kinds) is around $250. The positives are endless, Auto Focus Works, Exposure Controls work (somewhat, you still need to adjust exposure compensation), you can see the image in your Preview Window as it is, you can use it with any lens you like (even fish eye or long zooms that don’t accept filters or use drop ins).
Filters: They are expensive, but can be used and unused as you like. The draw backs to filters are:
With Filters, you have to use very long exposures (as most of the light is blocked by the IR filter of the camera.
Only certain scenes can be captured (because of the duration required)
AF is disabled (you can’t see anything once you put the filter on) — You have to compose your shot, put on the filter and hope nothing moves, than take the shot.
Exposure Control is disabled.
You have to use a tripod – since you get only a small % of the light you need very long exposures (10″-30″, 30″+ second exposure are typical).
In the next few posts, I’ll delve more into each of these items in more detail.
Come Stroll The Village To Experience “The Bellport Art Scene” in a Village-Wide art show installed in our galleries and shops.
Later Dine In One Of Bellport’s Fine Restaurants.
Reception Friday September 25 6 pm to 9 pm
Exhibits and Shops will be open throughout the weekend
Bellport Village is known for it’s many artists and artisans, contemporary and traditional fine art galleries, antique shops, boutiques and exceptional restaurants.
Now, for the first time we are uniting to celebrate Bellport’s art with this festive evening.
Don’t miss this extraordinary event.
I’ve been seeing a lot of discussions on forums and in clubs regarding Digital Negatives.
So let’s put together some Pros and Cons of Adobe DNG:
Pros:
You can embed the original RAW file inside of your DNG. Yes it makes it bigger, but in case you ever needed the original you still have it.
If you convert your RAW to DNG (and not store a copy of the RAW). DNG will be smaller, most of the time, than the original RAW file.
DNG is an open format, not a manufacturer specific format. You want to share you file between a Nikon, Canon, and Sony User? You can either export your RAW file to a DNG, or TIFF. Those are your only “real” options. There are other formats such as PNG, but you’re still chucking a lot of data right out of the window.
You can convert from RAW to DNG inside Lightroom as you import, so you won’t even know it happened.
This know separate Side XMP file that you have to carry around with a RAW file is no longer needed. DNG’s changes and history are kept within the file.
Cons:
DNG is not a native format for any manufacturer
DNG file conversion does take extra time (minimal for today’s computers, but there is still an initial hit, otherwise it is just as fast in opening and convert than the original RAW file).
There is a risk — adobe might stop supporting DNG format. Yes, it’s a very small list and Adobe would be shooting themselves in the foot if they ever do, but it is a possibility.
DNG files that include the original RAW file do take up more space than the original RAW file alone.
I personally have been using DNG for about 1.5 years now and have not had any issues. I really like the ability to export a DNG from lightroom and sending it to a customer without having to tell them how to open it or needing them to install Adobe RAW for Canon. All of my lightroom libraries have also been converted to DNG, even the original JPEGs.
I do mosaics and such on my site. I don’t get too many requests for them, as you need A LOT of digital images all vertical or horizontal for a good mosaic. I mean a lot of them. Here is the latest one I did, it’s over 3000 images, but it’s also 30″ x 20″ @ 240 dpi.
Here is the “thumbnail” of the poster.
And here is a small crop — only 33% of it’s size — section of the image.
Researches at Stanford are continuing their work on an open source camera. The camera would be an SLR built from available off the shelf parts and fully programmable. Including refocusing of the image after the image has been taken. It probably won’t beat a Canon 1D the first time out, but it might be a mighty cool toy to play with.
Canon finally seems to have added an artificial Horizon (self leveling one at that) to the body. At least on the view screen in Live View mode. Hopefully some version of it also included in the view finder display.
Here is the “thumbnail” of the poster.